Renton’s mayor and most City Council members think their proposal to annex the almost 100-year-old Renton library system into the King County Library System is a good idea. Renton citizens want to enhance the level of library services, and Mayor Law thinks the King County Library system can do it best. What he doesn’t say is that it will cost Renton citizens and business owners a healthy tax increase to join KCLS. Annexation to KCLS will cost as much as $.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $200 on a $400,000 property as a new line item on your property tax bill.

In the Jan. 11 Renton Reporter, Mayor Denis Law is quoted as saying that he “doesn’t plan to consider a levy anytime soon, given the economy,” yet he supports this new larger levy and annexation to KCLS now. For comparison, a $.26 local levy would double the current budget with half the impact on the economy.

If we defeat the annexation proposal and succeed with an equivalent $.42 local levy, we would maintain local control AND fund the needed improvements to the Renton libraries. Renton’s elected officials would provide leadership, while Renton citizens would retain control through the ballot box. KCLS is managed by a board of five appointed members who represent 1.2 million residents and who are not accountable to the voters. Renton is highly unlikely to get representation since the five members can come from anywhere in King County.

For all of the above reasons and more, I urge voters to VOTE NO on annexation to the King County Library System. Keep the libraries and your money under local control.

John E. Webley

Auburn